The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development advances.
